Amsterdam: If headscarves are allowed, why not crosses?
In somewhat related stories, the Danes banned Christmas trees in COP15 (h/t NRP). A college in The Hague also decided not to have a Christmas tree this year since they want to emphasize the 'international character and diversity' of the school. 30% of the school body are immigrants, as are 12% of the teachers (NL).
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Amsterdam tram conductor Ezzat Aziz was suspended twice for wearing a chain with a cross over his uniform. His employer, GVB, forbids him from exhibiting his faith and demands that he wears it under his clothing.
The transportation company does allow Muslim women to wear a headscarf as a symbol of their faith, a reason for the tram conductor to sue. Aziz, who came to the Netherlands from Egypt in 1984, wants to wear his five cm. long cross.
"I'm being discriminated. GVB allows female workers to wear a headscarf as a symbol of their faith. Moreover, since the beginning of this year I was forbidden to wear the cross in a showy manner, while I've been doing that during my work since 1998. I feel good when I wear a cross. It's a symbol of the love of Jesus Christ and I want to show that. I live in the Netherlands, a democratic country where you have the right to express your religion," says Aziz.
"Amsterdam is a multicultural city. It's not appropriate in that Muslims could proclaim their faith by use of a headscarf, but this tram conductor can't visibly bear witness to his Christian faith," says his lawyer Jacqueline Koops.
GVB spokesperson Petra Faber: "For a year GVB has new uniforms. In order to guard the professional appearance, ornaments can't be worn visibly over the uniform. Naturally, a chain can be worn under the clothing. This holds for all chains, regardless of what they look like, or what symbolism or religion they represent."
Source: Telegraaf (Dutch)
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